Case for condition indicating device



Feb. 3, 1953 T. G. HANEY CASE FOR CONDITION INDICATING DEVICE Filed Feb.16, 1949 WWW (921mm 0mm Patented Feb. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFHCE 2,627,312 CASE ma ooNnirioN INDICATING DEvicE Thomas Haney, EauCiaire, Wis assignor to National Pressure, Cooker Company, Eau Claire,Wis, a. corporation of Wisconsin Application apart-16, 1949, Serial No.76,672 3 earns. (01. 16l.l5)

My invention relates to a case and, more particularly, to an improvedcase for a condition indicating device such as a timer.

Among others, the objects of my invention are to provide a case ofmodern appearance'which the additional advantages of being easy to formand inexpensive to manufacture; to provide a case which is lightweightbut yet sturdy and protective of the mechanism' which it is adapted toencase; and to provide a case which is capable of being easily andsecurely gripped for lifting and carrying it, even though the hands ofthe user be Wet or greasy. I I

Other objects, uses and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent, or be obvious, from the following description, when'taken withthe accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is atop plan view of the case of my invention shown, forillustrative purposes, with associated timing device;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the case of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the case of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the case shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a bottom view of the case shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 65 of Figure 2, certainportions of the device being shown in elevation.

Although the case of my invention may be employed for various types ofcondition indicating devices, it is illustrated here in connection witha timing device. The case, indicated generally by the reference numeralI, is U-shaped, as may be readily seen in Figure 3, with the bightportion 3 forming the upper portion of the case and with the legs 5 and1 extending downwardly therefrom. It will be seen, therefore, that thecase is of an inverted U-shape which is open at its sides and bottom andprovides a generally square front surface 9 which has an embossedportion H on which there is adapted to be disposed a dial face, such asthe dial face iii. The embossed portion Il may comprise the circularportion for the dial face 13 and a small panel 55 for carryinginstructions, illustrations or a manufacturers name, for example. Itwill be appreciated that the embossed portion it may take other shapes.As may be seen from Figure 6, the front leg 5 on its inner surface has arecessed portion ll corresponding to the embossed portion H on the frontsurface of the front leg The rear leg I of the case i has an aperture 19(see Figures 4 and 6) positioned rearwardly of the embossed portion llof the front leg 5.

The timing device, indicated generally by the reference numeral 2 i,comprise a combined pointer and handle 23 and works which are enclosedin a housing 25. The housing 25 and its works are adapted to be securedto the inner surface of the front leg5 by fastening means, such as thescrews 2'! (see Figures 3 and 5) which pass through the front leg 5 andwhich have their heads concealed beneath the circular flange 25 of thepointer 23. The combination pointer and handle 23 is connected to ashaft 29 which extends through an opening 3i in the front leg 5 and isthen connected with the works internally of housing 25. .The works andhousing 23 are adapted to extend rearwardly through the aperture iii inthe rear leg 7. While, in the preferred form of the casing, the spacingbetween the legs 5 and I will be such that the center of gravity of theworks of the condition indicating device will be on a vertical linepositioned between the legs 5 and 7, that is, within the casing, that isnot a prerequisite, since the feet 33 which connect the free ends of thelegs 5 and 1 together in spaced apart relation may extend rearwardly, asshown, beyond the rear leg I and rearwardly of the center of gravity ofthe works. While the feet 33 are shown as being cylindrical, it will beapparent that they may take other shapes. Also, it will be apparent thatthe case I is adapted to be employed without the use of feet 33.

It will be seen from the drawings, particularly Figure 3, that if thefingers of the user are placed along the side edges of the walls 5 and iand beneath the bight 3 that the pads of the fingers will extendinwardly and obtain a secure grip of the case so that it may be liftedand carried about, even though the users fingers are wet or greasy. Thasis a decided advantage where the timer is being used in or aboutkitchens or the like.

It will be readily apparent that, by forming the casing from sheetmetal, and in the U-shape which is shown, manufacturing costs may beconsiderably lowered while, at the same time, an attractive and moderncasing is provided. Although the case is preferably formed from sheetmetal, other methods of manufacture, such as casting, may be employed.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, I donot intend to be limited thereto, except in so far as the appendedclaims are so limited, since various suggestions for change ormodification coming within the scope of the invention will occur tothose skilled in the art in view of my disclosure.

I claim:

1. A case for a condition indicating instrument, which instrumentincludes a works, a pointer shaft and a pointer carried by the shaft,com-- prising a fiat generally rectangular piece of sheet materialformed in an inverted U-shape open at its sides and bottom, each leg ofsaid U-shaped sheet presenting a generally rectangular surface bothdimensions of which are greater than the distance between said legs,said legs being spaced apart a relatively slight distance whereby thepads of the fingers of a user may be pressed inwardly of the side edgesof said legs and of the bight portion of said U-shaped sheet to providea slip-free grip for lifting and carrying the case, one leg of saidU-shaped sheet having an embossed portion on the outer surface thereofand having a substantially central aperture therein adapted for thepassage of the instrument shaft, said embossed portion of said one legbeing adapted to carry a dial face for cooperation with the pointercarried by the'instrument shaft, the other leg of said U-shaped sheethaving an enlarged substantially central aperture therein adapted forthe reception and passage of the instrument works, said one leg of saidU-shaped sheet being adapted for the securement thereto of theinstrument works on the inner surface thereof, said enlarged aperture insaid other leg of said U-shaped sheet being adapted to accommodateextension of the instrument works therethrough when the instrument worksis secured to the inner surface of said one leg, and a foot disposedadjacent each side of said U-shaped sheet at the bottom thereof, saidfeet extending transversely of and interconnecting the legs of saidU-shaped sheet and extending beyond said other leg.

2. An instrument case comprising a flat generally rectangular piece ofsheet material formed in an inverted U-shape open at its sides andbottom, each leg of said U-shaped sheet presenting a generallyrectangular surface both dimensions of which are greater than thedistance between said legs, one of said legs having an enlarged aperturetherein substantially centrally thereof, and a housing extending throughsaid enlarged aperture in said one leg and secured to the inner surfaceof the other leg of said U-shaped sheet, said other leg having anembossed portion on the outer surface thereof adapted for the receptionof an instrument dial face, said legs being spaced apart a relativelyslight distance whereby the pads of the fingers of a user may be pressedinwardly of the side edges of said legs and of the bight portion of saidU-shaped sheet to provide a slip-free grip for lifting and carrying thecase.

3. An instrument case according to claim 2, including a supporting footdisposed adjacent each side of said U-shaped sheet at the bottomthereof, said feet extending transversely of the planes of said legs andinterconnecting said legs.

THOMAS G. HANEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 60 272,737 McLewee Feb. 20, 1883560, 13 Schieifer May 12, 1896 1,566,890 Lux Dec. 22, 1925 1,910,149Carlson May 23, 1933 1,921,847 Spear Aug. 8, 1933 2,087,698 Mooney July20, 1937 2,224,737 Lockwood Dec. 10, 1940 2,422,212 Shann June 17, 19472,490,638 Kubec Dec. 6, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 7 Number Country Date91,175 Switzerland Oct. 17, 1921 534,088 France Dec. 27, 1921

